As to what had become
of the man himself I could get no clue. He had been seen at Maritzburg
and, according to some Kaffirs whom I knew, afterwards on the borders
of Zululand, where, so far as I could learn, he vanished into space.
This, to say the least of it, was disconcerting, and a question arose
as to what was to be done. Brother John was to have been our guide. He
alone knew the Mazitu people; he alone had visited the borders of the
mysterious Pongo-land, I scarcely felt inclined to attempt to reach
that country without his aid.
When a fortnight had gone by and still there were no signs of him,
Stephen and I held a solemn conference. I pointed out the difficulties
and dangers of the situation to him and suggested that, under the
circumstances, it might be wise to give up this wild orchid-chase and
go elephant-hunting instead in a certain part of Zululand, where in
those days these animals were still abundant.
He was inclined to agree with me, since the prospect of killing
elephants had attractions for him.
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